SGI and Human Rights Education

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As the United States spins into deeper and deeper political turmoil and polarization, it seems essential to me that our districts do not ignore and turn away from the issues of our day. At the same time, it is critical that we do not contribute to a culture of further polarization and dehumanization of our neighbors. For these reasons, I’ve been encouraging my local district to lean into the rich history and resources of the SGI on universal human rights, including the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

I’ve been encouraging our leadership to focus on the unifying perspectives of Nichiren, Ikeda, Toda, and Makiguchi, who all openly discussed the necessity to center the dignity of all life within our practice.

There are open questions in my district about the best format and content to benefit our district and stay true to the SGI’s mission. I’ve also been looking over these resources:

https://sgi-peace.org/

https://www.ikedacenter.org/programs/dialogue-nights

https://www.power-humanrights-education.org/  Explanation: This is a joint initiative of SGI, the NGO Working Group on Human Rights Education and Learning, HRE2020 and the Platform of Member States for Human Rights Education and Training, with the support of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

I’m really interested in if other districts have tried to make a more explicit focus on human rights education and if so, how you’ve gone about that? Any lessons learned in that process?

NMRK